Time switch



Aug. 5, 1941. E. F. SWENSEN TIME SWITCH Filed May 31, 1940 sSheets-Sheet 1 I NVENTOR. [MM /T JM f/VJE/V 1941. E. F. SWENSEN2,251,429

' TIME SWITCH Filed May 31, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR [44/2 fJmWM/v ORNEY.

Aug. 5, 1941. E. F. SWENSEN TIME SWITCH Filed May 31, 1940 3Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR [/v/z f J/Vf/VSf/V @3222 A? Zn) k TTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 5, 1941 UETE STATES PATENT OFFICE TIME SWITCH Emil F.Swensen, Manitowcc, Wia, assignor t Paragon Electric Company, Chicago,111., a corporation of Illinois 11 Claims.

This invention relates to time switches.

Objects of this invention are to provide a time switch which is equippedwith a timing dial and with trippers, in which the trippers are providedwith operating means all of which are located on the rear side of thetiming dial and each of which operating means successively engages aportion of a switch operating arm to sequentially operate the switch.

Further objects are to provide a construction in which the switchactuated from the trippers has a quick break and quick make, in whichmeans are provided for storing up energy in the switch operating meansand thereafter suddenly releasing this energy for causing a quick motionof the switch, and in which a very simple switch operating means orassembly is provided which may be quickly assembled.

Further objects are to provide a time switch in which a switch operatingarm is accessible exteriorly of the front plate or face plate and may bemanually operated without interfering with its correct successiveoperation by the respective trippers of the timing dial, but in which,if it is desired, the switch may be manually operated at any time, theswitch operating arm also having the additional function of serving as aswitch position indicating means.

Further objects are to provide a time switch in which any number ofswitches may be operated by the timing mechanism without any change inthe main body of the mechanism itself and with a very simple and slightchange in the switch parts themselves.

Further objects are to provide a time switch construction in whicheither a single or a plurality of switches may be provided which maysimultaneously open and simultaneously close, or in which one of theswitches may open while the other switch closes, and to provide aconstruction in which the switch operating means may be temporarilypositively locked in either of two positions in one form of theinvention, or may be temporarily locked in one position and may bemomentarily operated to move to the other position in another form ofthe invention, the invention readily lending itself to such change witha minimum of alteration of the parts so that substantially the samestructure may be provided for both forms of the invention and thechange-over from one form to the other may be made in a very simple andinexpensive manner.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a face view of the device, with a part broken away and withthe device removed from the box or housing.

Figure 2 is a side view of the structure shown in Figure l, partly insection.

Figure 3 is a sectional View on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a rear view, partly in section.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure d is a sectional view on the line 6-45 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 i an exploded view of the switch operator assembly.

Figure 8 is a View corresponding to Figure 5 showing a modified form ofthe invention.

Figure 9 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 showing the modified formof the invention illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a view corresponding to Figure 4 showing a further form ofthe invention.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the device comprises atime switch which is mounted on an insulating panel I normally housed ina casing or box, not shown, and which carries the outer plate 2, themotor 3 which may be a self-starting synchronous motor or other type ofmotive means, the timing dial 4 and the intermediate clockwork indicatedgenerally at 5 mounted between the plates I and 2.

The plate I carries the terminals certain of which are indicated by thereference character 5 and also carries the movable switch arms 'I and 8,these switch arms being provided with movable contacts 9 and Ill whichcooperate with the stationary contacts ll and I2.

As the description proceeds, it will be appreciated that either one or aplurality of pairs of movable and stationary contacts could be provided,In the form shown two sets of such contacts are employed. The movableswitch arms I and t are carried by the rigid arms of connecting membersor supporting members I3 and I4 and the stationary contacts II and i2are similarly carried by the stationary connectors or supporting membersand I 6.

The synchronous motor drives the main shaft I'I', see Figures 1 and 2,at a regular rate so as to provide one revolution of this shaft everytwentyfour hours. Obviously if desired, a different rate of rotationcould be provided and different motor means could be employed. However,in the form shown the shaft makes one revolution every twenty-fourhours. It carries the removable timing dial 4 which is provided withgraduations I8 and with a pair of trippers i9 and 28 which have pointerslocated on the outer face of the dial. Although one pair of trippers hasbeen shown, it is obvious that any number of pairs may be provided. Aclamping thumb nut 2i is screwed on the shaft IT and clamps the dial andtrippers in their adjusted or selected position on the shaft l'l,preferably a nut or other member 22, see Figure 2, being rigidly carriedby the shaft and against which the associated parts can be clamped.

The trippers i9 and 29 are each provided with operating means on theinner side of the dial. These operating means are indicated at 23 and 2in Figures 2 and 3 and each operating means is adapted to selectivelyoperate the switch operating arm This switch operating arm is carried bythe squared portion 26 of a shaft 2?, the major portion of the shaftbeing round as indicated in Figure '7 and the outwardly projectingportion 2G being square.

When the portion 25 of the trippers approaches the operating arm 25 theoper ting arm is in the full line position shown in Figure 3, suchportion 2 1 will strike the upturned cam member 28 of the operating arm25 and inasmuch as this portion is located off center with reference tothe axis about which the arm 25 rocks, it is apparent that a the timingdial rotates, such operating arm 25 will be rocked into the dotted lineposition shown in Figure However, when in this position the cam memberor operating member 23 of the trigger arm IE; will ride on the left sideof the cam member 23 of the operating arm while said latter is in thedotted line position shown in Figure 3 and will thus rock the operatingarm to its full line position shown in Figure 3.

The operating arm 25, which is aiso a switch position indicator,constitutes one portion of a switch operating assembly. The assembly isshown separated out in Figure 7 and is shown in its assembled form inFigures and 6. The

switch operating assembly is mounted between,

the rear plate I and the front plate 2 and includes a hub 29 which isfreely mounted on the shaft 27 but which is rigid with the switchoperator or lever 36, such lever having an outwardly turned portion 3!that fits between the side walls of a cradle or carriage 32. A flangedhub indicated generally at 33 is mounted on the squared portion 25 ofthe shaft. This hub is provided with a double shouldered portion, oneportion 35 of which fits within the opening in the outer plate 2 andconstitutes a bearing, and the other portion 36 of which is slidablyreceived in the elongated slot or aperture 3'5 formed in the cradle sothat the cradle is free to slide to a limited extent with reference tothe hub It is preferable to slightly counterbore the member 29 adjacentthe end of the squared portion 26 of the shaft so that clearance isprovided for any burrs that may occur as a result of assembling themember M on the squared portion of the shaft. The squared portion of theshaft may stop flush with the outer end of the member 25 as shown inFigure 6, or it extend a slight distance into the counter-bore if sodesired.

The cradle 32 is provided with a rearwardly turned tongue 38 at one endand with a forwardly turned latching tongue 39 at its other end and maybe provided with a plurality of depressed pads or feet 58, see Figure 7,to reduce friction,

such pads or feet sliding on the inner side of the plate 2.

The plate 2 is provided with an arcuate slot M which has notches 12 onopposite sides of a contrally located tongue 23 and normally thelatching tongue 39 of the cradle fits within one or the other of thenotches 42.

It is to be noted particularly from reference to Figure 7, that thesquared portion 26 of the shaft rigidly carries a spider d4 having aspring actuating arm 64 and a pair of slide actuating arms 45. Theseslide actuatin arms 15 normally abut the shouldered portions formed onopposite side flanges of the cradle The member 34 is slipped over thesquared portion 28 of the shaft during assembly and when the operatingarm 25 is pressed onto the end of the shaft as shown in Figure 6, itrigidly holds the hub 3% between such arm 25 and the rigidly carriedspider 46. The flange 34 of the hub is positioned rearwardly of thecradle 32 and loosely holds the cradle against displacement and preventsthe lug 39 of the cradle from being displaced from the arcuate slot M.

A coiled spring 4'1 loosely surrounds the hub and is provided with apair of outwardly projecting arms When the device is assembled, the arms48 bear on opposite sides of the spring actuating member 64, see Figure7, and the lug 38 of the cradle 32. They normally exert no tendency torock the cradle, as is obvious from an inspection of Figure 5, as theymerely bear on opposite sides of the two lugs id and 38, and thoughthese arms G8 are urged in opposite directions to clamp or bind againstthe lugs M and 38, nevertheless there is no tendency to rotate thecradle with reference to the shaft 2'. under normal conditions. Theouter hooked end of the spring 33 is hooked over one of the side flangesof the cradle 32, as shown particularly in Figures 5 and 6.

t is apparent that as the timing dial rotates, that the switch operatingarm 25 will be oscillated first in one direction and then in the otherdirection, thereby correspondingly rota ing the shaft 27.

If it is assumed that the shaft 2? is rotated in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in Figure 5, it is apparent that one of the arms 45will force the slide 32 outwardly against the action of the spring 33.However, a slight degree of sliding motion is permitted the cradle 32before the latching tongue 33 clears the stationary latching lug ortongue 43. During this rocking motion of the shaft 2?, the lug 44 hasmoved to the left as viewed in Figure 5, and consequently has tensionedthe spring 47 and has moved the lefthand arm 48 of such spring out ofengagement with the lug 38, thus storing energy in the spring tending torotate the cradle 32 in a counterclockwise direction. The cradle 32slides outwardly until the latching lugs 39 and 43 are disengaged andthereafter snaps with a quick motion to the right, the spring 33 causingthe cradle to travel inwardly and causing the latching lug 38 to seatitself within the other notch 42, thus locking tl 0 device againstinadvertent motion.

If desired, the spring 33 may be so positioned that it assists thecradle 32 in rocking towards switch open position and thus may assist inthe opening motion of the switches if so desired. The switch armsthemselves have a certain inherent resiliency and tend to close so thata little more effort is required for operating the cradle during theopening motion of the switches than during the closing motion thereofand this additional force may be supplied by the spring 33,

In order to operate the switch from the switch operator or lever 30, aninsulating sleeve or member 49 is rigidly carried by the arm 30. Thismay be accomplished by providing a bolt or screw all which passesthrough the insulating sleeve 49 and rigidly clamps such sleeve to thearm 30, as shown in Figures 2 and 6, and if desired, an outer insulatingwasher 5! may be provided, as shown in Figure 2.

The wall I is provided with an opening 52 that clears the insulatingsleeve 49 and such insulating sleeve projects through this insulatingwall and engages the movable contact arms I and 8. The sleeve 49, whenin the full line position shown in Figure 4, cooperates with the camportions or curved portions of the arms 1 and 8 to simultaneously openboth switches, and when in the dotted line position, allows bothswitches to simultaneously close.

It is apparent that as many switches as needed can be operated bysuccessively spacing them rearwardly of the insulating plate I.

It is to be noted particularly that these switches are opened and closedby a snap action and also it is to be noted that if desired, the operating arm may be manually moved to the On and off position asindicated on the outer plate 2 in Figure 1, to thereby operate theswitch to either on or off position with a snap action. Normally theoperating arm and consequently the switches are automatically actuatedby the trippers of the timing dial, as hereinabove described.

The switches need not necessarily be both simultaneously opened andclosed but other arrangements could be had. For example as shown inFigure 10, a construction is illustrated in which when one switchcloses, the other switch is opened. This is easily accomplished bymerely providing the spring arm 8 with an outwardly turned portion 8which, upon comparison with Figure 4, will be seen to be turned in theouter direction as compared with the structure shown in Figure 4. Thearm I has the out-turned portion 1'. By these means it is apparent thatwhen one switch closes, the other is opened.

It is to be noted particularly that the synchronous motor and the switchparts are all 1ocated rearwardly of the insulating plate I andconsequently are separated off by this insulating barrier from the restof the mechanism.

It will be seen that a novel form of time switch has been provided inwhich the trippers are set from the front side of the dial, and in whichthe trippers have their operating means located on the rear face of thedial. and in which a single portion of the switch operating arm isengaged and operated successively by the operating means of thetrippers.

It will be seen further that the operating arm of the switch may bemanually manipulated and will not interfere with the subsequentautomatic operation of the switch operating arm by the trippers in theircorrect sequence. The trippers have their operating points at differentradial distances from the center of the dial and one operating meansacts to directly abut the corresponding member on the operating arm andthe other operating means acts like a cam member, with such means on theoperating arm.

If it is desired to have only a momentary switching operation, this maybe easily accomplished by the construction shown in Figures 8 and 9. Inthis form of the invention, the parts are all the same with theexception that an additional spring 53 is provided and also a smallblock 54 has a press fit in one of the notches 42. The spring 53, itwill be noted, tends to rock the shaft 2'! in a counter-clockwisedirection as viewed in Figure 8. Normally the device occupics theposition shown in Figure 8, but when the tripper I9 brings its portion23 into engagement with the portion 28 of the sw' ch operating arm 25,it rocks such arm against the action of the spring 53 and withdraws thelug 323 from the notch 42 within which it had been seated, and theswitch is consequently caused to rock to its other position, but as soonas the cam member 23 passes the portion. 28 of the operating arm 25, theshaft 21 is free to rock in a counter-clockwise direction under theinfluence of the spring 53 and the parts assume the position shown inFigure 8.

It is to be distinctly understood that either the arrangement shown inFigures 4 and 10 can be used with either of the forms of the inventionas illustrated in Figures 5 and 8, for instance.

It will be seen further that the device is very simple and may be mostreadily assembled. During the assembly the spring is placed on the hubmember and the hub member slipped over the squared portion of the shaft.Thereafter this much of the assembled mechanism is positioned within thechannel of the cradle and subsequently the switch operator is placed onthe round portion of the shaft. This entire assembly is then placed inposition between the inner and outer plates.

It is also apparent that the trippers may be set wherever desired tocause the sequential operation of the switch at the desired times, andthat the switch may be used to control electric signs or any otherdevice desired.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, it isto be understood that such description is intended as illustrativerather than limiting, as the invention may be variously embodied and isto be interpreted as claimed.

I claim:

1. A time switch comprising a pair of contacts, a switch operator forcausing relative movement of said contacts, a sliding and rocking cradlefor moving said switch operator back and forth, said cradle beingslidable with reference to said operator without imparting motion tosaid operator, latch means released by the sliding motion of said cradlefor locking said operator in either of two positions, spring means forrocking said cradle back and forth, an operating arm for storing energyin said spring means and for rocking said cradle, and time mechanism forrocking said operating arm.

2. A time switch comprising motor means, trippers driven by said motormeans, a switch operating shaft oscillated by said trippers, a cradleassociated with said shaft and having rocking and sliding motion, springmeans between said shaft and said cradle for storing up energy tendingto rock said cradle when said shaft is rocked, switch operating meansdriven from said cradle, said cradle having means for latching saidcradle in either of two positions, and means on said shaft for slidingsaid cradle to release said latching means.

3. A time switch comprising timing means, motor means for driving saidtiming means, an electric switch, and a switch operating assemblyincluding a rock shaft rocked from said timing means, a sliding androcking cradle, latching means for latching said cradle against rocking,spring means between said rock shaft and said cradle for storing upenergy when said rock shaft is rocked, and means on said rock shaft forunlatching said cradle by sliding said cradle, said switch and saidcradle being operatively connected to cause a quick make and break ofsaid switch. i

d. A time switch comprising timing means, motor means for driving saidtiming means, an electric switch, and a switch operating assemblyincluding a rock shaft rocked from said timing means, a sliding androcking cradle, latching means for latching said cradle against rocking,spring means between said rock shaft and said cradle for storing upenergy when said rock shaft is rocked, means on said rock shaft forunlatching said cradle by sliding said cradle, and a switch operatorrocked by said cradle, cradle having sliding motion with respect to saidswitch operator.

5. A time switch comprising timing means, motor means for driving saidtiming means, an electric switch, a rock shaft, an operating armoscillated by said timing means for rocking said rock shaft, a slidingand rocking carriage, a first spring means tending to hold said carriageagainst sliding, means on said rock shaft for sliding said carriage whensaid rock shaft is rocked in either direction, latch means normallyholding said carriage against rocking and released when said carriage isslid against the action of said first spring means, a second springmeans operatively connected to said rock shaft and carriage normallyoperatively inert with respect to said carriage and operative to biassaid carriage for rocking motion when said rock shaft is rocked, and aswitch operator slidably related to said carriage and operatively drivenfrom said carriage.

6. A time switch comprising timing means, motor means for driving saidtiming means, an electric switch, an operating arm oscillated by saidtimin means, a sliding and rocking carriage, a rock shaft rocked by saidoperating arm and passing through said carriage, said carriage havingsliding motion with respect to said rock shaft, a first spring meanstending to hold said carriage against sliding, means on said rock shaftfor sliding said carriage when said rock shaft is rocked in eitherdirection, latch means normally holding said carriage against rockingand released when said carriage is slid against the action of said firstspring means, a second spring means having a coiled portion encirclingsaid rock shaft and having spaced arms tending to approach each other,said carriage having a lug located between said spaced arms, said rockshaft having means projecting therefrom and including a second luglocated between the spaced arms of said second spring means, and aswitch operator coaxial with said shaft and slidingly related to saidcarriage and rocked by said carriage vhen said carriage is rocked ineither direction.

'7. A time switch comprising a pair of spaced plates constituting afront plate and a rear plate, clockwork mechanism located between saidplates, motor means for riving said clockwork mechanism, a timing diallocated on the outer side of said front plate and having adjustabletrippers, a rock shaft extending through said plates and having anoperating arm on the forward side of said front plate successivelyoscillated by said said trippers, said rock shaft having laterallyprojecting arms and having a projecting lug, a carriage slidablerelative to said rock shaft and having abutments against which saidlaterally projecting arms engage and having a projecting lug inapproximate alignment with the lug of said rock shaft, a first springmeans tending to hold said carriage against sliding, a second springmeans having a coiled portion concentric with said shaft and havingprojecting arms tending to approach each other and engaging said lugs, aswitch operator having sliding relation to said carriage and concentricwith said shaft and rocked when said carriage is rocked, said carriagehaving a latching portion normally received within a latching notchformed in a relatively stationary part of said time switch, and a switchhaving a movable arm located rearwardly of said rear plate, said switchoperator including a projecting portion extending through said rearplate and adapted to engage the movable arm of said switch.

8. A time switch comprising a pair of spaced plates constituting a frontplate and a rear plate, clockwork mechanism located between said plates,motor means for driving said clockwork mechanism, a timing dial locatedon the outer side of said front plate and having adjustable trippers, arock shaft extending through said plates and having an operating arm onthe forward side of said front plate successively oscillated by saidtrippers, said rock shaft having laterally projecting arms and having aprojecting lug, a carriage slidable relative to said rock shaft andhaving abutments against which said laterally projecting arms engage andhaving a projecting lug in approximate alignment with the lug of saidrock shaft, a first spring means tending to hold said carriage againstsliding, a second spring means having a coiled portion concentric withsaid shaft and having projecting arms tending to approach each other andengaging said lugs, a switch operator having sliding relation to saidcarriage and concentric with said shaft and rocked when said carriage isrocked, said carriage having a latching portion normally received withina latching notch formed in a relatively stationary part of said timeswitch, and a plurality of switches located rearwardly of said rearplate and each having a movable arm, said switch operator having aprojecting portion for engaging the movable arms of said switches andfor simultaneously operating said switches when said switch operator isrocked.

9. A time switch comprising motor driven timing means, an electricswitch, and a switch operating arm including a rock shaft rocked fromsaid timing means, a sliding and rocking cradle, latching means forlatching said cradle against rocking, spring means between said rockshaft and said cradle for storing up energy when said rock shaft isrocked, and means on said rock shaft for unlatching said cradle bysliding said cradle, said switch and said cradle being operativelyconnected.

10. A time switch comprising timing means, motor means for driving saidtiming means, an electric switch, and a switch operating arm including arock shaft rocked from said timing means, a sliding and rocking cradle,latch means for latching said cradle in one position against rocking,spring means tending to restore said cradle, a second spring meansbetween said rock shaft and said cradle for storing up energy when saidrock shaft is rocked, and means on said rock shaft for unlatching saidcradle by sliding said cradle, said switch and said cradle beingoperatively connected.

11. A time switch comprising an insulating plate, motor means locatedrearwardly of said insulating plate, an electric switch locatedrearwardly of said insulating plate, clockwork mechanism locatedforwardly of said insulating plate and including a timing dial, trippingmeans carried by said timing dial and adjustable from the front of saiddial timing dial, and a switch operating assembly including a rock shaftrocked from said tripping means, a sliding and rocking cradle actuatedfrom said rock shaft, and means actuated by said cradle and operativelyconnected to said switch.

EMIL F. SWENSEN.

